Acne doesn’t have to have control over your life

Learning to accept acne will help you focus on more important things

Acne+doesn%E2%80%99t+have+to+have+control+over+your+life

Annika Lehan, JAG editor-in-chief

Whether it be smothering lipstick on our lips as a five-year-old or trying to tie a tie at seven years old, we have all had that point in our childhood when we wanted to just grow-up. But when we were finally granted this wish, an unexpected antagonist in everyone’s lives made itself known: acne. Although many negative things seem to be connected with acne, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing unless we give it that power over us.

Acne is most commonly caused by an imbalance in hormones occurring during our teenage years. As we age, our oil glands begin producing less sebum and oil, causing the likelihood of acne to also decrease. From this, we should learn to focus on more important things, such as our schoolwork and our family, rather than something that will only occur for a small portion of our lives.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, acne is something that affects about 80 percent of people between the ages of 11 and 30. Although acne affects so much of the population, one thing that still ceases to amaze me is how many people receive ridicule for this common skin problem.

Inflamed by the countless photoshopped pictures of celebrities and the perfectly edited photos posted on social media, our society has developed an image in our heads of what people should look like. Exposure to these photos causes some people to believe that we should all have the smoothest and clearest skin, and if we don’t, then there must be something wrong with us.

But why are these photos even photoshopped in the first place? Acne is no more of an impurity on our faces than a beauty mark or even a scar that makes you look fierce and ruggish. Blue eyes along with red hair are also mutations, yet we don’t stare and laugh at people who have these characteristics.

Because of society refusing to accept this completely normal part of life, people feel responsible to try any means necessary to remove this so-called imperfection. Yet after watching my friends cake makeup onto their faces for the millionth time and trying all of these new acne medications, I can honestly say that trying to fix the problem only makes it worse. Wearing too much make-up can clog up your pores, and certain acne medications can irritate your face. If everyone in our society just took a step back and accepted acne, then people wouldn’t get into a cumulative cycle that caused their skin problems to continuously grow.

So next time when you’re walking through the hallways with your acne covered face, remember that you are not alone. In 50 years from now, people aren’t going to remember you by your acne, and stressing over something so little in life will only make it worse. Stop obsessing over the person with the perfect skin and instead acknowledge the things that make you special. Instead of being disgusted by your face, look at your face and smile because you are simply growing up. Remember: acne only has as much power as we give it.

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